DM Kathy Monday May 14th, 2012 10:44:37 PM
You manage to get to the dining hall just in time for dinner. You linger a little over your meal, discussing strategy. A few students stop by your table to wish you luck.
It is full dark by the time you leave the dining hall, but it is a pleasant evening for early spring. As you begin to head toward the dorms, you hear the sound of running footsteps, approaching you. A figure approaches, and, as it gets closer, you recognize him. It is Royse Mellon, the boy who seemed briefly interested in Wilma, and who was beaten at archery by Ariach.
"I have to warn you," he says, gasping for breath. "You guys are going to be in serious trouble!"
Grell Monday May 14th, 2012 10:50:20 PM
GRRRRRR!!! I thought I had 10 more minutes to get my post in. :(
Grell AC 22/14/19, HP20/20 Monday May 14th, 2012 11:19:02 PM
Grell relishes his practice time with Tuck and Ariach! Ever since he was out of the "in crowd", Grell had been struggling to get in a quality practice. Now he finds himself suitable challenged, particularly by Tuck. He's never worked very much on hand to hand combat of this type, and he works hard even if he's not particularly skilled. Tuck finds that mostly Grell relies on pure brute strength, though he finds Tuck's lessons fascinating, and tries to pick up a couple of new skills.
Grell also finds his time with Ariach very agreeable. He still doesn't understand half of what he's talking about, but he likes the guy's style. He makes sure to thank Ariach for his vigilance and when he is observing his archery practise, Grell fills in the down time with extra sets of sit ups and and push ups. "You know, a lot of people depend on their arms in swimming, but very few people realize the importance of your abs. You core is the key in so many things...especially fighting... Grell goes on and on about the importance of proper conditioning to maintaining top fighting form...no doubt it's a boring speech.
When the day before the competition finally arrives, Grell is thrilled! He nibbles at the foods, not wanting to fill up on too much food. He raises his eyebrows in surprise as Royse jogs forward. "Trouble? Why?! I didn't do ANYTHING! Ariach's been with me the whole time!!"
Ariach AC 23/14/19 Tuesday May 15th, 2012 3:43:52 AM
After Dame Brightseeker has wished them all a good night, Ariach goes immediately to sleep. But before he escapes into the land of dreams, he prays for a long time to Domi. "Thank you for your protection and your goodwill towards which I am so far gone. I am thankful too for my new companions that you have sent me. Now give me the strength to man up tomorrow. Keep the fear of failure away so I am victorious at the battlefield. "
The next morning he is among the first at breakfast. He makes sure not plug up too much food into himself - quite the opposite of Grellīs appetite which seems to be huge all the time. He listens attentively to the words of the just-arrived Royse Mellon and Grellīs reply.
"There is no reason to worry Grell. We've had nothing to be guilty. If the other team members are able to say the same thing about their own activities, we have nothing to fear. " With these words, he lets his gaze glide through the ranks of the other team members.
Wilma AC16/12/14 (chain shirt); HP20/20 Tuesday May 15th, 2012 3:48:16 AM
"I don't think he means you did anything to get yourself in trouble, little brother," Wilma said, frowning. "Royse--what kind of trouble are you talking about..?"
Benedict Carver - AC 18/14/14 - HP 24/27 Tuesday May 15th, 2012 8:02:13 AM ...and make it double!
Carver looks up from his reading and waits for Royse to answer the question.
Tuck HP 17/17 AC 16/16/12 Tuesday May 15th, 2012 3:57:14 PM
Tuck is glad to be done with the training. The fun starts tomorrow. The reward for all the hard work.
He has grown closer with Grell and jokes with him at the dinner table.
"Oh man, I can't wait for tomorrow! I just know we're all going to do well."
Afterwards, Tuck is as concerned as the others with Royse's warning.
Oh man. What now?
Emrys (ac14, hp14) Tuesday May 15th, 2012 9:51:21 PM
As he walked, Emrys was gently plucking a tune about warm spring nights when he is so rudely interrupted by Mellonhead. The others already asked the question, so he just continues to keep on playing nonchalantly.
Vaniime AC 18/14/14, HP:13/15 d20+10=29 ; d20+10=15 ; d20+10=29 ; Tuesday May 15th, 2012 10:03:46 PM
Having had an amazing week riding (DCs 29, 15, 29), and working with her teammates, Van is finally beging to relax a bit and feel Like she is going to do well when Royse makes his appearance and his procamation. Hearing the others ask, she waits to hear what it is that he has to say.....
DM Kathy Wednesday May 16th, 2012 1:40:13 AM
[OOC to Ariach: If your character really does go straight to sleep after the end of the training session, you'll miss the rest of the adventure! I'll assume you went to dinner with the others, and were on hand to hear Royse's warning.]
[OOC to everyone: it is evening, not morning.]
"Zeliak and Belorin and some of the others," Royse says, beginning to catch his breath, "they didn't like that you'd beaten them out. So they got together and planned to get you in trouble. The sought me out and asked me to join them."
His eyes seek Wilma's. "I didn't want to. You all won your events fair and square. I wanted to warn you. But then I thought--warn you about what? They didn't tell me what they were planning.
"So I pretended to go along with them," he continues, "trying to find out what they're up to. But they must not have trusted me completely, because they didn't really tell me anything until today at lunch. We cut afternoon classes, and went to Gnowsy Thornton. We snuck onto campus and stole their school mascot. We left some clues there that I guess are going to trace back to you. And we put him in your 'headquarters.' The mascot, I mean."
He looks around at all of you. "I'm really sorry I wasn't able to warn you sooner. And now I'm not sure what to do, or how to get you out of this!"
Wilma AC16/12/14 (chain shirt); HP20/20 d20+10=24 ; Wednesday May 16th, 2012 2:55:20 AM
Wilma listened very carefully, watching Royse's face as he spoke, searching for any nigh-imperceptible clues about whether he was being honest in the story he was telling them. (OOC: Wilma has rolled a Sense Motive check with 24 as the result.) She also sighed as she frowned.
"I bet I know what happened to my missing ring now..." she predicted, then shook her head at the confessing boy. "I wish you could have warned us a little sooner, Royse...but at least you're telling us now. Are the others planning to give Dame Brightseeker some sort of 'anonymous tip' about where to find the mascot, or were they going to rely on us being discovered with it when Gnowsy Thornton inevitably tracks the creature here..?"
As an afterthought, Wilma also added: "What IS the school mascot for Gnowsy Thornton, anyhow...?"
Tuck HP 17/17 AC 16/16/12 Wednesday May 16th, 2012 4:45:29 PM
Tuck's eyes go wide and his face colorless at Royse's confession. My headband!
"My headband!" he says when Wilma admits to her missing ring. "They must have taken my headband. I thought I just lost it. Oh man, this isn't good."
"Who all is involved, besides Zeliak and Belorin? I don't suppose if we went to Brightseeker with Royse and he told her what he told us, that she would take our side."
"Oh man."
Ariach AC 23/14/19 Wednesday May 16th, 2012 5:53:42 PM
Ariach follows Royseīs story to the end. He is very upset about the heard things.
How can someone fall so deeply and is so jealously that he just spins out such a plot. This would indeed not only harm the team members-no- the entire good reputation of the school would be damaged for years. And then my name would stand for eternity in connection with this debacle. I cannot tolerate such infamy.
Flooded at the thought of the conspirators he feels anger first. How happy he would be confronting the evildoers with their crime. But then a feeling of compassion wins the upper hand. Compassion for these lost souls who have strayed from the clear path. Nevertheless, he has to initiate the necessary steps to expose the traitors.
"Lady Brightseeker must be immediately informed of the events. She will know the truth and we finally have a witness. Although I admit that it would be good to remove the mascot from the "headquarter "- just in case things go wrong."
Ariach is proposed to have surely the right approach to such offenses. But when he looks around he believes to see in some faces skepticism over his proposal. Also, he is still not clear if he accords credibility to Royse.
I agree that Madame Brightseeker should be told with Royce in attendance, but I think only one or two of us should accompany him to her, while the others of us try and catch and return the mascot if at all possible without notice.
Royce, what is this mascot? I suppose it would be too much to expect that it is something as simple as a goat or some such?
Wilma, how is it that I am so much more capable than these idiots and I get caught doing something artistic and they somehow get away with this?.......
Emrys (ac14, hp14) Wednesday May 16th, 2012 9:42:58 PM
"Well, if any of those buffoons try anything, they'll find themselves dancing naked in the teachers' lounge." After a short pause, Emrys exclaims, "You all didn't hear that."
Grell AC 22/14/19, HP20/20 Wednesday May 16th, 2012 10:32:08 PM
Grell sighs. No, it would be too easy to think that Belorin would just let it go. He definitely agrees that Dame Brightseeker should be notified, but he is hesitant to agree to go after the mascot. "If we get caught, it won't matter what we say...we *will* be guilty then."
Benedict Carver - AC 18/14/14 - HP 24/27 Wednesday May 16th, 2012 11:46:37 PM "We should avoid guilt by association. We take Royse to Brightseeker now and have him confess what he has told us. We can let the professors lead the way to discover the mascot."
DM Kathy Thursday May 17th, 2012 1:15:10 AM Wilma studies Royse's face carefully, and comes to the conclusion that he's either completely sincere, or the best actor on the Second Plateau. And you're pretty sure Bluff isn't a class skill for him. She asks whether the other group intended to tip anyone off. "I think they were just counting on the theft being discovered," he replies. "But now that you mention it, they may get impatient. I don't know how much time we have."
Tuck asks who else is involved. "Um..Holly-Iris," Royse replies. "Naeve and that minotaur kid....uh, Belhorn. That's all I know about."
Vaniime asks what the mascot is. "Oh, it's just a dog," he assures you. "A bulldog. He really wasn't any trouble on the way over here."
You speak of taking this to Dame Brightseeker. Royse looks doubtful. "Well, here's the problem," he says. "We have no proof. It'll be our word against theirs. Actually, it'll be worse than that because all the evidence is on their side. And you heard the Headmaster," he adds. "Any infraction will get you kicked off the team. And I'm worried that they'll just disqualify all of us and figure it out later."
He has a point. Maplehurst professors tend to do that kind of thing. Oh, once they've been convinced that you weren't to blame, they'll apologize handsomely, but a lot of good that will do when the competition is already over.
"If only there was time, you could just put the dog back," Royse says. "And reclaim those 'clues.' That would be ideal. But Gnowsy Thornton's ten miles away. You'd need wings."
When he says "wings," it reminds some of you of something. Some of you remember Fizzle Tinkerhand, who came on your earliest adventure before academic work took up all his time. The last time you saw Fizzle, he was talking excitedly about his "final project." It's always a little difficult to follow what Fizzle is talking about, but....you think maybe he said something about a "flying machine."
Wilma AC16/12/14 (chain shirt); HP20/20 Thursday May 17th, 2012 3:22:12 AM
"Wings..?" Wilma echoed, her brows puckering before she recalled Fizzle and his flying machine.
"Wings!" she repeated, snapping her fingers. "Guys...we just might be able to get that bulldog back to Gnowsy Thornton in time! Remember Fizzle's big project..? The one that he was forever scribbling all those formulas and sketches about..? His flying machine...? I'm pretty sure that we could use that to get us there and back before the dog is missed!"
She looked around at her fellow students hopefully.
"All we have to do is find it, get it, and then figure out how it works after we get our hands on it!" Wilma said brightly. "It should be as easy as falling off a treant...!"
Vaniime AC 18/14/14, HP:13/15 Thursday May 17th, 2012 7:51:14 AM
Van listens and then as Wilma finishes she adds her thoughts to the mix.
Umm Wilma, People don't "fall" off of Treants They are usually thrown very hard to the ground and then trampled upon, until they are jelly.
Hey Guys, How about we use our invisibility potion on the dog and then get him back to its owners. Perhaps I should just sneak in give the dog the potion and then with no visible evidence we might have a bit or breathing room. I don't suppose any of you can cast a silence spell for the dog as well?
Ariach AC 23/14/19 ; HP 24/24 Thursday May 17th, 2012 8:55:18 AM
Once again Ariach thinks hard to assess the situation properly and to take appropriate counter- measures.
*Perhaps Royse is right. Zeliak, Belorin and their co-conspirators will certainly deny everything and days could pass before the truth comes to light. We would be excluded from the team until they would find out that we are innocent. But then the competition with Gnowsy Thornton would be long gone. And Holly- Iris is involved in all that too! What a shame.*
But whatīs about the flying machine Wilma is talking about? Flying? No, no, I'm not afraid - just - well ... If the gods had willed that people fly they had given them wings.
Despite he has doubts about the flying machine Ariach is ready to assist his teammates. "Wilma's proposal sounds to me pretty well. Of course we must ask for permission to use Fizzlīs flying machine. Vaniimeīs idea of using an invisibility potion could also be a great help. I hope the gates of Gnowsy Thornton are still open, because of course we will not sneak in or do other things law forbids! "
Tuck HP 17/17 AC 16/16/12 Thursday May 17th, 2012 3:08:44 PM
"A few of us should go speak with Fizzle and a few should go round up the dog. We can meet at Fizzle's and take the machine. Save the potion until we're closer to Gnowsy Thornton's since it will wear off. Wilma, do you have a good relationship with Fizzle? Maybe you should speak with him. I'll go get the dog. Is everyone okay with that?"
Tuck looks to the darkening sky. The hair on the back of his neck perks up. This is a real adventure! This is what Dad was talking about. This feeling.
"We should hurry."
Emrys (ac14, hp14) Thursday May 17th, 2012 9:06:52 PM
Emrys retrieves the potion from his backpack. "Here is the Invisibility Potion. However I suggest that one of us bipedals drink the potion and then carry the dog past sensitive areas. Both should be cloaked with the desired effect. However the potion will only last a few minutes."
The bard continues, "Of course, I could talk to the animal and explain things. I may be able to convince the dog to cooperate with us."
Grell AC 22/14/19, HP20/20 Thursday May 17th, 2012 10:55:15 PM
Grell sighs. This was exactly what he was afraid of. He looks over at Tuck and Emrys. "Well, if we're going to split up, it would be good to have Emrys and Tuck go together. That way Emrys can talk to the dog, and Tuck can protect him." Grell decides to go with Wilma's group to get the flying machine.
Emrys (ac14, hp14) Thursday May 17th, 2012 11:50:41 PM
"Actually, my magik will grant the dog the ability to understand, read and speak any language I know. However, I think the dog will only be able to answer us with grunts and gestures, since they lack the ability to form words. Anyone will be able to talk to him."
DM Kathy Friday May 18th, 2012 12:02:58 AM
The group decides that "divide and conquer" is the best strategy, especially given the urgency of the task. Tuck volunteers to go get the dog, and Emrys and Grell volunteer to accompany him.
Meanwhile, Wilma, and whoever wants to accompany her, will seek out Fizzle and see if they can get permission to use his flying contraption. If he even has one. If it even works.
Royse sketches you a quick map of where the dog needs to be returned, then goes to find his co-conspirators. "If they get the idea of alerting Dame Brightseeker," he says, "I'll try to talk them out of it. Or distract them."
(Vaniime, Ariach, and Carver, let me know which group you want to go with.)
The group going to "headquarters" knows the way pretty well by now, and it doesn't take long before your'e inside. Sure enough, there's a bulldog sitting near the wrestling mats. He is brown-and-white, and he is sitting placidly, panting a little. A bone-shaped tag on his collar gives his name as "Gnowsy."
[A Knowledge Nature check might reveal more about Gnowsy.]
Meanwhile, Wilma and her group head out in search of Fizzle. He isn't in the nearly-deserted dining room, and he isn't in the boys' dormitory. Although the hour is late, you decide to try the Magic labs. Maybe he's working late.
The classroom building seems a little eerie at this time of night. During the day, it is a place of light and noise and crowds, but now it is all but deserted. You see the occasional light, and hear the occasional sound of someone working late, but for the most part the building is dark and quiet.
You finally find Fizzle in a lab on the second floor. He is a gnome, with a shock of white hair that always looks as if it were just in an explosion. He is studying some drawings and muttering to himself. In one corner of the lab, something quite large is covered with a sheet.
Ariach AC 23/14/19 ; HP 24/24 Friday May 18th, 2012 1:45:50 AM
Ariach decides to accompany Wilma. If he has to fly then he wants to take a closer look on this so-called flying machine. He also wants to make sure that Fizzle is really asked for the permission to use the machine.
When they reach the lab, and he sees the funny-looking little gnome who talks to himself, brooding over some documents, his confidence in the flying machine is not strengthened.
Benedict Carver - AC 18/14/14 - HP 24/27 Friday May 18th, 2012 1:50:06 AM
Carver follows along, but with a grimace on his face.
Why couldn't we have just threatened the cheaters until they confessed? This is rather convoluted.
Wilma AC16/12/14 (chain shirt); HP20/20 Friday May 18th, 2012 2:01:14 AM
"Well..." Wilma confessed to her teammates, "...Fizzle and I aren't bosom buddies, but I always liked him, so I'm willing to give it a shot."
Once she and the people with her found the industrious gnome, Wilma decided that being as forthright as possible was the best chance they had to borrow Fizzle's flying machine.
"Fizzle!" the young cleric-in-training greeted the gnome with a smile. "I'm glad we found you, because we need to ask you a very big favor..." Wilma paused a moment before going on.
"Fizzle...we are here because we very much need to borrow that flying machine of yours. We need to get...eh...somewhere rather far away as quickly as possible, and your machine is our only hope. I know I'm sounding very mysterious here--but I don't want you to know too many details about where we need to go or why...because I don't want you to get into trouble for helping us in case our trip to...the place we need to go...doesn't work out the way we are hoping..." The redhead shrugged sheepishly.
"So...may we please borrow your flying machine..?"
Tuck HP 17/17 AC 16/16/12 Friday May 18th, 2012 4:11:41 PM
"Heeeeeeeey, buddy," Tuck says in a friendly tone. "I bet you're having fun on your trip, huh."
He does a quick scan of the room to see if there's any other evidence the schemers might have left to get them into trouble.
"I guess we should take him back to meet with the others."
As Grell decides to go with his sister to see Fizzle, Van thinks she would be better off joining Tuck and Emrys in getting the dog out and unseen.
As they approach the team headquarters, she takes a good look to see if there are any telltales around to let anyone know they are there. (Perception 13).
Once inside She makes a quick inspection of Gnosy to figure out what makes him special, as she is fairly sure he isn't mundane, (knowledge nature 14).
Emrys (ac14, hp14) d20+9=13 ; d20+9=21 ; Sunday May 20th, 2012 5:51:19 PM
Emrys looks and listens around to be sure they are alone (Perception 13). In a calm soothing voice, he approaches Gnosy and says, "That's such a good, good dog" (Diplomacy 21). He mutters a few more words of power and gives the dog a gentle pet across his head and back.
"Hello, Gnosy. Do you understand me? My name is Emrys, he is my friend Tuck. We are your friends too. Would you like to go home to a soft bed and a good meal?"
(Casting Share Language. If the dog chooses to Will save against it, it is DC 16. I choose the Common Language. Gnosy should be able to understand written and spoken Common for 24 hours.)
DM Kathy Sunday May 20th, 2012 10:06:31 PM Wilma, Ariach, and Carver go into the lab to talk to Fizzle. Well, Wilma does the talking; the others accompany her.
"Hmm?" Fizzle looks up from his notes. "Oh. Um, Wilma. Say, would you happen to know the magical flux coefficient of dragon scales?"
"Flying machine?" he asks. "Oh, yes! My final project." He glances over to the covered thing in the corner. "Hasn't really been tested yet. I mean, it flies, and it carries stuff, but I haven't really done any long range...far away, you say? Hmm.....that almost sounds ideal. And it's never crashed or anything, except that one time."
Meanwhile, Vaniime, Emrys, Grell, and Tuck are face-to-face with Gnowsy the bulldog.
Tuck tries sweet words, and the dog gets to his feet, rather slowly, and wags his stump of a tail. Emrys follows up with an invitation the dog can actually understand. He can't answer you, but he walks toward you and gives a friendly-sounding "whuff!"
Vaniime, meanwhile, is studying the dog. She realizes that Gnowsy is a perfectly normal, natural dog. He is unusually calm for a dog, but you realize, as he moves toward your group, that he is quite old. There is grey on his muzzle, and he walks as if he may have a touch of arthritis in his hips. His days of scampering around like a little maniac are, fortunately, behind him. He moves the rest of the way to Emrsy and sits at his feet with a gusty sigh.
Wilma AC16/12/14 (chain shirt); HP20/20 Sunday May 20th, 2012 10:42:14 PM
"Then we have your permission to...uh...to take it on a longer-range test flight? Yes..?" Wilma asked brightly, batting large sapphire eyes at Fizzle as she smiled hopefully.
All the while, she hopes that the others are doing well with Gnowsy the bulldog.
Tuck HP 17/17 AC 16/16/12 Monday May 21st, 2012 9:22:56 AM
The dog's calm demeanor is one of the few things the group has going for them, Tuck thinks.
"All right, doggie! Let's get you back home. Shall we take him to meet up with the others?"
He looks to Emrys and Vaniime to make sure they have nothing left to do at headquarters before heading out.
Ariach AC 23/14/19 ; HP 24/24 Monday May 21st, 2012 4:29:19 PM
A cold shiver runs down his back as Ariach hears the words- *it has not really been tested yet.*
Even without the words of the slightly weird gnome he had a queasy feeling about the whole thing.
But pioneer spirit and courage are qualities of a good adventurer, he thinks to himself, forcing himself to smile as they receive permission to use the flying machine.
Van thinks for a moment about any less than normally trafficed exits to and from the headquarters that she may have learned on her skulking about over the years.
Umm Shall I drink the potion and carry Gwnosy, so we don't get caught with him?
(Knowledge Local/dungeoneering DC 10)
Emrys (ac14, hp14) Monday May 21st, 2012 10:12:49 PM
"Yes, I'm ready to go. Sounds like Gnowsy is ready to go too. OH, and a reminder, Gnowsy understands what we say. He may have some special talents that would helpful."
Emrys turns to Gnowsy and explains the situation. "Gnowsy, the people who brought you hear don't want you to go home tonight, so we will need to be as quiet as we can. If you smell them nearby, let us know by tapping us with your paw." The bard asks Gnowsy one more thing, "When we ask you a question, you can say, 'Yes,' by nodding your head up and down. You can say, 'No,' by shaking your head back and forth. Do you understand?"
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